Braces are Off!

I am pleased to say that after 16 months, the braces are finally off!  Woo Hoo!!!!!

Before

 I hated how yucky and yellow the bands were starting to look.  I was so afraid that my teeth would be yellow as well.  It feels so good to have them OFF!!!



After

Piano Recital

Tyler and Emily both started piano lessons this year.  Emily started first and Tyler insisted that he wasn't interested.  Each time Emily came home from her lesson, Tyler would sit down and play her lessons with ease.  We encouraged him not to waste such a talent, and convinced him to sign up as well.  Their first recital was Monday night.  They worked so hard perfecting their pieces, and even though they were super nervous, they played beautifully!

So proud of them both!

Check, Check, Check and Check!

AIRPLANE MUSEUM - CHECK

Emily claims to be afraid of the Airplane Museum, so while she was at her sewing lessons, we went without her.

The kids are pointing to a picture of their Great Grandpa Barnes.  So proud of him for serving!

 PIZZA/PARK/SAND VOLLEYBALL - CHECK

OK, so the sand volleyball wasn't on our bucket list, but it was so much fun I bet it will be next year!  This was easiest the funnest night I have had with the kids in a long time.  Travis and Emily were gone to Father/Daughter campout.  I was feeling a little cranky, so we grabbed a pizza and a ball and headed for the park.  Gavin and Kate played on the playground, while I showed Tyler how volleyball is done!!!   

SWIMMING - CHECK

This little gal sure looks sweet in her swimming suit, however, she would not move from this top stair!

SLEEP OVER WITH THE COUSINS - CHECK

I love when these girls come and spend the night!  I did not have any relationships with my cousins while growing up and I think these kids are so lucky that they do.  They are such fun girls and I love them like my own.  They stayed up until 11:30 and slept until 8:30!

Kate, Emily, Gracie, Bree and Gavin

I love that they coordinated their PJs!

Stay tuned for more fun......

Snowies

Gavin has been so great with his diabetes.  He's got a good, positive attitude.  He has never complained.  I was worried with baseball and soccer.  After every game, the boys are rewarded with a treat and a drink.  After receiving his treat, he'd run over to me and hand over his loot.  We would either save it for later, or trade him for something he could have right then.  Until tonight when he spotted the snowie stand.  He LOVES snowies.  He wanted one BAD!!!!  He got sad and it made me want to cry.  I stopped at every stand, asking if they had any nutrition information.  Now that probably sounds funny -obviously I know that these things are straight sugar, but if we dose him for the amount of carbohydrates, he can eat anything he wants.  I wasn't surprised that none of the stands could offer me any information.  He was sorely disappointed, so Travis came up with a good solution.  Buy a cup of ice and pour some Crystal Light over the top of it.  When Gavin was presented with this option, he replied,

"That isn't a snowie.  That's Crystal Light over ice!"

It made me a little sad, but also made me laugh a little.  He gave it a shot, and guess what?  He actually thought it was pretty good!  YIPPEE!!!!

4-Square/Sidewalk Chalk

I think it's interesting that most of the things the kids chose to put on the bucket list don't cost anything. Four square and sidewalk chalk contest today...

The Princess!

Square #2

Square #3

And in Square #4

Kate was too afraid to play with us.  She came out and spotted an ant and made a run for the house!

Game On!!!

After she removed her pants, she got brave enough to join us for the sidewalk chalk contest.....

Sunshine, turtle, butterfly, bumblebee, snail, flower, pig and spider

Cowabunga surfing dude

So proud of this girl and her dog in her beautiful flower garden.  Especially proud of the bird pooping on her head!

"Think Papa, think"  Hmmmm.  Not sure what that means.

Isn't she sweet?

Too hard for this judge to pick just one.  They were all winners and were rewarded with an otterpop :)

Four Square - Check
Sidewalk Chalk Contest - Check

Stay tuned for more fun......

Bucket List

I want to have lots of fun with the kids this summer, and decided that the kids should have a say in what we do.  Therefore, we created a Bucket List.  Each time something is marked off, I will blog about it.  Let's see how much fun we can have this summer!

Today we decided to kill 3 birds with one stone and take a picnic to Layton Park. Tyler was a little reluctant at first, and was sure he wasn't going to have ANY fun with us today. Look at these pictures and you tell me if you think he had fun or not ;)

This very picture made me flash back to this moment a couple of years ago.... 

 I remember this like it was yesterday.  My, how things have changed.  Kind of makes me sad :(

I think it's safe to say that EVERYONE had fun today.  We enjoyed a picnic, feeding the ducks, swinging, sliding, merry-go-rounding, climbing trees and exploring for over three hours!  They wore me completely out!

Park - Check
Picnic - Check
Feeding the ducks - Check

Stay tuned for more fun......

Last Day of School

Once again, the kids all had successful years.  Last Friday was their last day, and it was a little bit hard to take.  Gavin graduated from Kindergarten, Emily passed the third grade, and Tyler graduated from sixth grade.  It's hard to believe that I will have THREE full time students next year.  What will Kate and I do with all that time?

This is our principal, Mr. Clark.  He was absolutely AMAZING!!!! We all love him to pieces!

Mrs. Horsley was wonderful as well.  Emily will miss her immensely!

Mrs. Stephens worked wonderfully with Gavin, especially after he was diagnosed with diabetes.

Tyler was too big and cool to get a picture with his teacher. 

So hard to see these kids growing up every day, but so fun to enjoy watching them as well.